Katasraj Mandir is a Hindu temple complex situated in Katas village in the Chakwal district of Punjab in Pakistan. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, and is one of the most important Hindu pilgrimage sites in Pakistan still in use to this day by members of the Hindu community.
The relationship of Hindus with the local Muslim population was very good. Local Muslims even accompanied them to the next town Choa Saiden Shah from where the Katas Hindu population proceeded further to India.
The Katasraj temple complex is believed to date back to the Mahabharata era. Many legends are associated with the temple. The five Pandava brothers, heroes of the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata, are said to have stayed here for four of the thirteen years they spent in exile. The lake in the complex is believed to be filled with Shiva’s tears and the waters are thus said to have mystical powers.
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The complex is also believed to be the site where one of the Pandava brothers, Yudhishthira, defeated the Yaksha with his wisdom, bringing his brothers back to life.
Another legend involves the death of Shiva’s wife Sati. The story goes that when she died he cried so much and for so long that his tears created two holy ponds – one at Pushkara in Ajmer, in modern India, and the other at Ketaksha in modern day Pakistan, which literally means “raining eyes” in Sanskrit. It is from this name that the word Ketas is derived. Another version of the legend mentions the two pools at Katasraj and Nainital. Yet another version of the Shiva legend involves the death of Shiva’s horse Katas instead of that of Sati his consort. Some legends also state that the very first Shiva Linga was in Kattas.
The Katas site houses the Satgraha, a group of seven ancient temples, remains of a Buddhist stupa, a few medieval temples, havelis and some recently constructed temples, scattered around a pond considered holy by Hindus.
For decades the temple complex was in a bad state due to the ravages of time and the neglect of the authorities.
In 2006-07, Pakistan decided to place deities of Hindu gods in the seven mandirs and restore them to their original state to attract visitors.The budget allocated for the project was Rs. 51.06 million.
The temple was visited by India’s former deputy prime minister Lal Krishna Advani in 2005. The government decided to import deities of Hindu gods from various monuments in India to Pakistan for the restoration.
this is nice information..
Sad part of our Hinduism is that we being soft people have lost Afghanistan, Pakistan,bangladesh. We are on verge of loosing Kashmir…
Seems that this is a curse on Hinduism ..Though being militarily powerful but not united lost against Islamic onslaught. Many coward hindus got converted to Islam and forgot their roots and they destroyed our own heritage…Lets pray to god atleast save the remaining “hindu ciilization” and we take steps to save our ancient dharma…
very interesting information.
Thank you for your rarest and valuable information.
If the information about spending money by the Govt of Pakistan is true, it is a welcome move. Also it is recognition of the unified past.
This is a greatly revealing about Hindu temples and the universality of Hindu Religion
The Hindu community should unite to restore this temple to its former glory.
“SARVAM SHIVAMAYAM JAGATH..”..
I like it very much
I have serious doubts about the condition of temple and its serenity .Pakistanis are known for their intolerance towards communities other then Muslims.
great.should be preserved and visitors allowed.
WOW, this is awesome and stunning information
During present terrorism attacks time, I would not publish any articles related to our holy places outside our Bharat. Such articles bring to the terrorist attantion and motivate them to attack such places. So, if you love our sanskriti and civiliazation, please protect such places by not publishing such articles in details. This just my thinking.
Fantastic news – Shah Bash Pakistan !!!! Zindabad !!!
Nick
good to know that PAKISTAN government is making efforts in preserving hese temples. Hindus of India should make a note of it especially the young Hindu women of India who in the name of fashion have little regard for age old good tradtions and customs of HINDU WOMEN. Instead of building ne temples in every street corners, Hindus should donate generously for the preservation of ancient temples
Good to see this side of Pakistan. Media usually publishes bombs, terrorists and haters.
This is very interesting to me.
I love learning about different peoples and cultures. I love the pictures and information about the Hindu religions and temples. I love it:)
This should not surprise any Hindu if Katraj temple is being mentained by the Government of Pakistan.They might be making it a tourist attraction.Happa and Mohanzodero are well mentained by Pakistan Govt as they make money from it through the tourist.Besides PAKISTANIS ARE LOT MORE EDUCATED AND BROAD MINDED AS COMPARED TO AFGHANS who destroyed Bamiyan Budhist statues for no reason.The afghans should have left statues of Budha and the place would have become a great tourist attraction
It’s a pity that Pakistan Afghanistan destroyed Hindu, Budhist monuments where as in India we encourage building mosques and India has the maximum mosques in the world.we are too mild and will give our necks and sword to them to kill us .This has to stop and earliest we do so the better it is.
The news is seen by me surprising me. Our daily news about Pakistan is only terrorists are crossing the border and shooting at our army .This is fantastic news or information about the people of Pakistan.I am very happy to hear this news.
Very wonderful information indeed.It is awakening our knowledge on our Hinduism.Our ancestors are so brilliant and created divine knowledge for the benefit of Humans.
Regards,
S.Natarajan.
Nice article.
IT REFLECTS THE GRANDEUR OF HINDU-SPIRITUALITY,OMNIPOTENCE OF ESWAR.
I WISH ALL THIS INVALUABLE INFORMATION COULD BE AVAILABLE IN BOOK AND DVD FORMAT ALONG WITH ALL OTHER KNOWN DETAILS. IF IT IS ALREADY THERE, PLEASE INFORM ME.
GOD BLESS YOU AND GOD BLESS ALL.
Dear Sir
Good day
I am regret the sentence that place of Punjab District gone in Pakistan Location see down:
“Katasraj Mandir is a Hindu temple complex situated in Katas village in the Chakwal district of Punjab in Pakistan. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, and is one of the most important Hindu pilgrimage sites in Pakistan still in use to this day by members of the Hindu community”.
best regards
Fantastic !! A Hindu temple remains in Pakistan!!!
The temple is great. Any Pooja is going on there? Is Shiva starving all these years? Can Pakistan spend a little to offer about half an hour to offer an ounce of food through a poojari to the Lord?
by God very intense research with photographs and all we loved it
VERY GOOD INFORMATION ABOUT OLD SIVA TEMPLE
This is remarkable and enlightening.
Thank you.
I repeat Harsha`s Comment
surprise to see this nice photos and herring of about shiv temple in Pakistan how fantastic that pond amazing
thank u
Excellent information one has to know
History is like the root of a tree, to be able to see it one got to look deep under ground (or in past). Preserving history should be every ones bussiness and I admire Pakistan for that.
Such rare information. thank you for enlightening us with the spread of Hinduism in ancient India. A
also sad that our religion is fast being corroded by onslaughts from other religions.
Sarada
BETTER TIME IS COME BY THE GOD GRACE , IT IS REVEAL GOD WITH US
Remarkable information with good photos. Indian Government should take up the matter and develop it so that Hindus can visit this temple safely.
good for see all the temples.
this is a remarkable. Thank you.
Hats-off to India Divine Organisation for bringing to light about Sri Katasraj temple. I opine and demand the International Hindu organisations, as a matter of inevitable responsibility, atleast from now, to take steps for conservation of such an ancient monument.
Hindus have no guts. They are disunited. They are subjugated by Islam Rules because they are divided. All will talk, but no one will act. You will see that Kerala will follow J & K soon. Even those in power are afraid of criticism even though they are just and fair in their action.
SR Krishnan
This is a greatly revealing about Hindu temples and the universality of Hindu Religion
amazing facts
Both the countries should encourage religious tourism, be it Hindu, Sikh or Islamic religions. People to people contact will bring down the ever increasing hate among these two countries.
Hindus should become tough and UNITED and should get back the entire Kashmir valley as Kashmir belongs only to HINDUS.All muslims in Kashmir should evacuate the Valley or else even Kashmir and after some years entire INDIA will be ruled by Muslims.All Hindus will be be beheaded by Muslim TYRANTS.So its high time that entire HINDU religion fights Muslims to gain back Kashmir
Good information…how to go katsraj temple…what is the procedure.
I came across some interesting backgrounds of some famous places in Pakistan, which reminds us of ancient Hindu glory:
(1) Peshawar was called ” Pushpapur” for the beautiful flowers it produced ;
(2) Rawalpindi :- Rawal means saints in chaste Punjabi and it was a famous place for congregation of Hindu saints at Taxila ( most ancient university till date)
(3) Sialkot was ” Shalyakot” meaning the shinning fort
(4) Multan was : Moolsthan or the birthplace of lord Narasimha who destroyed Hiranyashipu
(5) Balochistan :- It was a land of ” UCCH BAL ” or divine strength people who supported the kauravas during the Mahabharata war
(6) The Valmiki ramayan was written near the current ‘Wagah border
(7) The term Lahore has come from Luvpur ( son of Lord Rama )
(8) The current day Qandhar was the famous Gandhar of Shakuni
(9) Afghanisthan has been derived from the term ” Ashwanisthan ( from where the best steed of horses came)
Apart from Katasraj temple and many famous Gurudwaras , the famous Sadhubella temple and the Jhulelal temple are located in Sind. Also two Shaktipeethas are located in Pakistan
The Indus river is the origin of Hindus.
Shouldnt we stake claim to the ‘AKHAND BHARAT’ by crushing Pakistan
Interesting article! There must be lot of such temples in Pakistan. They must be preserved. We don’t know what must be happening to them.
Very Nice, to know about a Temple which I could not so far. ThanQ.
Such a beautiful place just near our neighbor. God is great.
Many thanks for information provided about Katasraj Shiva temple. Unfortunately, for reasons of infighting and lack of dedication to religion among a section of Hindus, Hinduism has been suffering for centuries. Undoubtedly, if Hindus unite, Hinduism will have different shape and size and march forward to rule the world. Somehow, Katasraj temple is an exception, almost most of the Hindu temples have been demolished in Pakistan and B. Desh.
CAN INDIAN HINDU GO TO PAKISTAN JUST FOR WORSHIP TO THIS TEMPLE
I HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH LORD SHIVA TEMPLE FROM PAKISTAN.THE ARTICLE IS EXCELLENT.
THANKS
I live in Rawalpindi a few hundred miles from Katasraj and have yet to visit this wonder of a place. There are many temples i see even in Pindi which are hidden under constructions in the front. Hindu Organisations of repute should identify these religious places and take up the matter with Pakistan and ask them to arrange experts to restore these religious and architectural wonders to their past glory. Hindu brothers and sisters are more than welcome to come visit them and fulfill their religious obligations. Please do something about it, Muslims can look at them with a historical perspective but its Hindus who know the real relevance and take it up as their religious duty. RSS, BJP what are you doing about it?
Farhan,
I couldn’t agree more with you…
Thanks…….